West Ham United’s 10 month season summed up in 10 words

Mark Noble’s expression sums up how many West Ham fans feel about the 2013-14 season (Picture: Getty Images)

So, 38 League games and 40 points after it began, West Ham’s Premier League season is over. Not the greatest one on or off the pitch, but here it is, in summary form.

August: Steady.A win, a draw and a defeat. Nice to start with a 2-0 home victory over Cardiff. Unremarkable 0-0 draw at Newcastle, then hugely disappointing 1-0 home loss to Stoke.

September: Uninspiring.A draw andtwo defeats. Jussi Jaaskelainen’s superb display earns the month’s only point in a 0-0 draw at Southampton. Twice ahead against Everton before two goals in the last 10 minutes seal a 3-2 loss. Beaten 1-0 at Hull by a controversial penalty.

October: Frustrating. A win, a loss and a draw. Ravel Morrison’s goal crowns a memorable first away win of the season, 3-0 at Tottenham. A good start before being swept aside 3-1 by Manchester City. 0-0 in a monsoon at Swansea.

November: Worrying. A draw, two defeats and a win. Lucky to escape with a 0-0 at home to Aston Villa, followed by a dismal 3-1 loss at Norwich after a great start. Featherweight in a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea, only two late goals for a 3-0 win over Fulham lift spirits.

December: Humbug. No Christmas cheer here. Two points from six league games and only a Capital One Cup win at Tottenham to lift spirits. Whilst losses to Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal were not surprises, defeat at Crystal Palace and draws against fellow strugglers Sunderland and West Brom – after leading twice – were alarming. The worried looks on players’ faces after the West Brom game told their own tale. Little did they know what was to come.

Kevin Nolan was sent off twice in a month (Picture: Getty Images)

January: Horrific. The nadir. Kevin Nolan’s second red card in a month puts West Ham on the way to defeat at Fulham and means he misses the massacre of the innocents as a team of youngsters are humiliated 5-0 in the FA Cup at Nottingham Forest, followed by a 6-0 Capital One Cup collapse at Manchester City. Yet another home league defeat – by Newcastle. The only positives are a 10-man win at Cardiff, a bus-parking masterclass for a point at Chelsea and Adrian becoming first-choice keeper.

February: Finally. …. and breathe. With Andy Carroll fit, at last things improve, with four straight wins. Nolan is forgiven as his goals seal wins over Swansea and Aston Villa, and after grinding past Norwich, Southampton are beaten too.

March: Boo. Normal service is resumed. Defeats by Everton, Stoke and Manchester United raise the temperature before the battle of the boos win over Hull. Another victory at Sunderland means survival is within reach.

May: Typical. Right at the end, they come good. Beating Tottenham (again) ensures survival before being awkward guests at Manchester City’s party. But West Ham stumble through and live to fight another day and another season.